How to continue your work immediately if your pc is faulty?

TairikuOkami · 23 Sep 2023

comcom said:

For example, if my PC is faulty (e.g. black screen stuck at windows logo etc...) I usually need to spend at least one day or more to troubleshoot/windows repair/replace faulty hardware/restore from backup/run repair or reinstall windows etc.

As for software, restoring a system backup takes 2 mins, that is 1 min to boot PreOS and 1 min to restore it.
As for hardware, it never happened to me, I buy a reliable hardware and I never clean dust, cleaning destroys it.

comcom · 23 Sep 2023

AK6DN said:

I restore via a Macrium backup my OS image from my RAID NAS to a new hard disk (identical to old) that is at most a one or two day old backup.

What is the difference of saving Macrium backup to RAID NAS vs saving Macrium backup to normal internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk inside tower case? I do not about RAID NAS, not sure what is the purpose.

AK6DN · 23 Sep 2023

comcom said:

What is the difference of saving Macrium backup to RAID NAS vs saving Macrium backup to normal internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk inside tower case? I do not about RAID NAS, not sure what is the purpose.

I actually do it to both. Macrium first writes the backup to an internal local 4TB hard disk (copy #1).
And then when the backup is completed, I have a task copy the Macrium image backup file to a raid NAS (copy #2).
And at the end of the month all the months backup files are copied to USB storage disks that are stored offsite (copy #3).

Some day you will discover that one copy of a backup file, or having all your backups stored in the same physical location, is not a backup strategy.

comcom · 23 Sep 2023

AK6DN said:

I actually do it to both. Macrium first writes the backup to an internal local 4TB hard disk (copy #1).
And then when the backup is completed, I have a task copy the Macrium image backup file to a raid NAS (copy #2).
And at the end of the month all the months backup files are copied to USB storage disks that are stored offsite (copy #3).

Some day you will discover that one copy of a backup file, or having all your backups stored in the same physical location, is not a backup strategy.

How do you automate the copy process of "And then when the backup is completed, I have a task copy the Macrium image backup file to a raid NAS (copy #2)." and "And at the end of the month all the months backup files are copied to USB storage disks that are stored offsite (copy #3).", or is it a manual select all and copy and paste?

Where do you store offsite (copy #3)? Rent a location to store? Not storing at home?

Does uploading online consider as storing offsite? What site do you recommend to store online? Not too sure is it called storing in cloud.

Thanks

farrellart · 23 Sep 2023

Having more than one computer is useful in case one goes offline or has issues. If there is a Windows issue that proves to be timely to fix, I just re-install Windows which takes around 1hour 30 min to get back to square one with installed software ( I always keep personal files away from the C:/ drive ).

idgat · 23 Sep 2023

Rather a pointless thread - so many variables that can be included in the phrase "if PC is faulty"

And then there could be umpteen options for any one of the above possibilities

This type of hypothetical is best addressed if and when specific circumstances occur

The length to which this thread could develop - filled with so much minutia - would make it impossible for anyone to research a solution for a particular problem,

AK6DN · 23 Sep 2023

comcom said:

How do you automate the copy process of "And then when the backup is completed, I have a task copy the Macrium image backup file to a raid NAS (copy #2)."

My macrium backups are triggered to run in the morning (ie, 7am).
I have a scheduled task that copies my internal backup disk to a local network NAS in the evening (ie, 7pm).

and "And at the end of the month all the months backup files are copied to USB storage disks that are stored offsite (copy #3).", or is it a manual select all and copy and paste?

This is a manual process to plug in the USB drive, then run (basically) the same copy task as above, from internal hard drive to USB drive.

Where do you store offsite (copy #3)? Rent a location to store? Not storing at home?

At my sister's house across town in her fire safe. I do the same for her in my fire safe.

Does uploading online consider as storing offsite? What site do you recommend to store online? Not too sure is it called storing in cloud.

Absolutely uploading to an online site like Google Drive or Apple iCloud all qualify as offsite storage. Cloud storage is one name for it, yes.
I don't have any particular recommendation or favorite for an online cloud storage provider. I use them occasionally but not for storing backup images.

FWIW I also use BackBlaze on my data disk for continuous online cloud backup and recovery. This is independent of my every other day Macrium backups.

comcom · 24 Sep 2023

I have thought of a simple way to immediately continue work if my PC is faulty as written below, let me know what you think, is it a good way or any better suggestions.

I use a desktop PC daily and windows is installed in internal SSD (C: drive) and data files are saved in another internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk (E: drive).

If the desktop I use daily is faulty suddenly, I will immediately unplug the internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk from my desktop PC then connect the internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk to my laptop via an external USB hard disk reader docking station so I can continue my work immediately on my laptop and access data files that was used in my desktop.

I will frequently update windows in my laptop (so it will not suddenly waste time updating windows during startup) and also install most of the software that I use frequently.

Laptop can be a cheap low end model if I only intend to use it for emergency purpose during the days that my desktop PC is faulty (because I need time to repair my desktop PC).

Maybe a used Surface Pro or Surface Go is enough? or minimum a Thinkpad?

Thanks.

SIW2 · 24 Sep 2023

I have 2 pc with identical motherboards. The second has a lower spec cpu. Just swap disk from one to the other in a few seconds.

AK6DN · 24 Sep 2023

comcom said:

I have thought of a simple way to immediately continue work if my PC is faulty as written below, let me know what you think, is it a good way or any better suggestions.

I use a desktop PC daily and windows is installed in internal SSD (C: drive) and data files are saved in another internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk (E: drive).

If the desktop I use daily is faulty suddenly, I will immediately unplug the internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk from my desktop PC then connect the internal WD 3.5 inch hard disk to my laptop via an external USB hard disk reader docking station so I can continue my work immediately on my laptop and access data files that was used in my desktop.

I will frequently update windows in my laptop (so it will not suddenly waste time updating windows during startup) and also install most of the software that I use frequently.

Laptop can be a cheap low end model if I only intend to use it for emergency purpose during the days that my desktop PC is faulty (because I need time to repair my desktop PC).

Maybe a used Surface Pro or Surface Go is enough? or minimum a Thinkpad?

Thanks.

This only works if you have all the same software apps that you need to use available on both systems.
If all you need is a browser and email to go online, that is simple.
If your needs are more complex (ie, like some expensive 3D CAD program) then replicating environments and licensing becomes an issue.
So YMMV depending entirely on what you do on your computer.

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SIW2 said:

I have 2 pc with identical motherboards. The second has a lower spec cpu. Just swap disk from one to the other in a few seconds.

Me two. Two identical boxes with same MB, same CPU, same graphics, same peripherals. Swap the disks from system A to system B (O/S and DATA) and ready to go.